Bryan Cranston’s Best Roles

Bryan Cranston has firmly established himself as one of the most versatile and celebrated actors of his generation, possessing a range that few performers can match. His career is famously defined by two iconic but polar-opposite television roles that showcase his extraordinary talent. He first won over audiences with his brilliant comedic work as a lovable sitcom dad before completely transforming himself for a dark, dramatic role that would become legendary.

This incredible journey from comedy to drama is a testament to his dedication and his profound understanding of the human condition. Whether he is playing a bumbling father, a ruthless kingpin, a historical figure, or a cynical dog, Cranston fully inhabits every character he portrays. The following roles highlight the remarkable depth and breadth of a career built on fearless choices and unforgettable performances.

‘John Carter’ (2012)

In this science fiction adventure film, Bryan Cranston plays Colonel Powell, a determined officer in the United States Army during the post-Civil War era. His character is tasked with recruiting the film’s protagonist, a former Confederate soldier, for a campaign against the Apache. The story is set in the Arizona Territory before the main character is mysteriously transported to Mars.

Colonel Powell’s role is crucial in the film’s opening act, as his relentless pursuit of John Carter sets the plot in motion. He represents the earthly authority and duty that Carter is trying to escape. Cranston’s performance provides a grounded, historical context to a story that quickly launches into the realm of epic fantasy and interplanetary conflict.

‘Last Flag Flying’ (2017)

Cranston stars as Sal Nealon, a boisterous and hard-living bar owner and former U.S. Marine. The story follows him as he reunites with two of his old Vietnam War comrades three decades after they served together. One of the men has sought them out to help him with the difficult task of burying his own son, a young Marine who was recently killed in the Iraq War.

The film is a heartfelt road trip movie that follows the three aging veterans as they travel up the East Coast to bring the young soldier’s body home. Sal’s cynical and often inappropriate humor provides much of the film’s comedic relief, but it also masks his own deep-seated pain and trauma from the war. His character forces the group to confront uncomfortable truths about their past and present.

‘The Infiltrator’ (2016)

In this tense crime thriller based on a true story, Cranston plays Robert Mazur, a real-life U.S. Customs agent who went deep undercover in the 1980s. His character creates a new identity as Bob Musella, a slick, money-laundering businessman, in order to gain access to the inner circles of the Medellín Cartel. The high-stakes operation aimed to expose the corrupt bankers who were helping to finance Pablo Escobar’s drug empire.

The film follows Mazur as he navigates the dangerous criminal underworld, where one wrong move could lead to his death. He must balance his undercover persona with his life as a husband and father, a duality that puts immense strain on him. Cranston’s performance captures the constant fear and pressure of a man living a dangerous double life to bring down a powerful criminal organization.

‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ (2011)

Cranston takes on a supporting role in this legal thriller as Detective Lankford, a seasoned and grizzled homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. His character holds a strong dislike for the film’s protagonist, a charismatic defense attorney named Mick Haller who operates out of the back of his Lincoln sedan.

Detective Lankford is involved in a past case that created a contentious history between him and Haller, and their mutual distrust is evident in their interactions. He serves as a minor antagonist, representing the law enforcement perspective that often clashes with the defense attorney’s methods. The role showcases Cranston’s ability to make a memorable impact in a limited amount of screen time.

‘All the Way’ (2016)

In this television film, Cranston delivers a commanding performance as the 36th President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson. The story chronicles the first eleven months of Johnson’s presidency, beginning with the immediate aftermath of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. The film focuses on his difficult and determined efforts to pass the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Cranston portrays the larger-than-life Texan president with all of his political cunning, volcanic temper, and deep-seated insecurities. The film explores his complex relationships with figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and his struggles to unite a divided Democratic party. Cranston had previously won a Tony Award for playing the same role in the Broadway version of the play.

‘Trumbo’ (2015)

He earned an Academy Award nomination for his lead role as Dalton Trumbo, a real-life, highly successful Hollywood screenwriter in the 1940s. The film depicts how Trumbo’s career and life were upended when he and other artists were blacklisted from the film industry for their political beliefs and refusal to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee.

The story follows Trumbo’s defiant fight against the blacklist, as he continues to write screenplays under various pseudonyms, even winning two Academy Awards while still being publicly shunned. Cranston’s performance captures the screenwriter’s wit, resilience, and unwavering commitment to his principles in the face of injustice from both the government and the Hollywood studios.

‘Argo’ (2012)

In this Oscar-winning historical thriller, Cranston plays Jack O’Donnell, a pragmatic and tough but fair-minded CIA manager. He is the immediate supervisor of Tony Mendez, the agent who masterminds the film’s central rescue mission. The story is based on the real-life operation to extract six American diplomats from Tehran during the Iran hostage crisis.

O’Donnell’s character operates from CIA headquarters in Langley, providing a crucial link between the dangerous field operation and the skeptical officials in Washington. He initially doubts the bizarre plan to create a fake science fiction movie as a cover story but ultimately becomes its biggest champion. His performance provides much of the film’s tension and bureaucratic drama.

‘Isle of Dogs’ (2018)

Cranston lends his distinctive voice to the lead character, Chief, in this stop-motion animated film from director Wes Anderson. Chief is a gruff, independent stray dog and the leader of a pack of canines who have been exiled to an island made of trash off the coast of Japan. He is fiercely proud of his stray heritage and distrusts humans completely.

The story follows the pack as they encounter a young boy who arrives on the island in search of his own lost pet. Chief reluctantly agrees to help the boy, and their journey together slowly breaks down his tough exterior, revealing a loyal and loving heart. Cranston’s voice work perfectly captures the character’s journey from a hardened cynic to a devoted companion.

‘Little Miss Sunshine’ (2006)

In this beloved independent comedy, Cranston plays Stan Grossman, a successful businessman who is a potential partner for one of the main characters, Richard Hoover. Richard is a struggling motivational speaker who has staked his family’s entire savings on a nine-step self-help program he has created. Stan represents the mainstream success Richard desperately wants to achieve.

Although his role is limited to a single pivotal scene over the phone, it is a crucial turning point in the film. Stan delivers a brutally honest and dismissive critique of Richard’s program, crushing his dreams in a matter of minutes. The brief but memorable performance showcases Cranston’s ability to play a sharp, no-nonsense professional.

‘Drive’ (2011)

Cranston plays Shannon, the mentor and business partner of the film’s mysterious and unnamed protagonist, known only as the Driver. Shannon is a down-on-his-luck auto garage owner and former movie stuntman who manages the Driver’s work as both a Hollywood stunt driver and a highly skilled getaway driver for criminals.

Hoping to legitimize their business, Shannon borrows money from dangerous mobsters to buy a stock car for the Driver to race. This fateful decision entangles them in a violent criminal underworld that they cannot escape. Shannon’s character is a tragic figure whose poor choices lead to devastating consequences for everyone around him.

‘Your Honor’ (2020–2023)

In this legal thriller series, Cranston stars as Michael Desiato, a highly respected and morally upright judge in New Orleans. His world is shattered when his teenage son is involved in a hit-and-run accident that results in the death of another boy. The situation becomes a nightmare when Michael learns the victim was the son of a ruthless local crime boss.

Fearing for his son’s life, Michael makes the fateful decision to cover up the crime, betraying every legal and ethical principle he has ever stood for. The series follows his descent into a dark world of lies, corruption, and impossible choices as he tries to protect his child from the city’s most dangerous crime family. The role is a showcase of a good man’s moral unraveling.

‘Malcolm in the Middle’ (2000–2006)

For seven seasons, Cranston delighted audiences as Hal, the patriarch of a chaotic and dysfunctional suburban family. As the father to five rambunctious sons, Hal was the goofy, sensitive, and often childish counterpoint to his domineering and perpetually stressed-out wife, Lois. The role established him as a master of physical comedy and earned him multiple award nominations.

Hal was known for his bizarre and short-lived obsessions, his tendency to panic under pressure, and his unwavering adoration for his wife. Whether he was taking up speed walking, building a robot, or getting trapped in a secret poker game, his hilarious antics made him one of the most beloved sitcom dads in television history.

‘Saving Private Ryan’ (1998)

In a brief but pivotal role in this iconic war film, Cranston plays a one-armed colonel working at the United States Department of War. His character is the one who brings the tragic situation of the Ryan family to the attention of General George C. Marshall. He informs the general that three of the four Ryan brothers have been killed in combat within a short period of time.

It is his character’s presentation of the facts that leads to the compassionate and difficult decision to send a squad of soldiers into active combat to find and bring home the last surviving brother. Though he is on screen for only a few minutes, his performance sets the entire premise of the film’s central mission in motion.

‘Seinfeld’ (1989–1998)

Cranston had a recurring guest role that became a fan favorite on the legendary sitcom. He played Dr. Tim Whatley, Jerry’s dentist, a character who appeared in five episodes. Whatley was known for his slightly unprofessional behavior, including having magazines in his waiting room and once converting to Judaism, which Jerry suspected he did purely for the jokes.

His character was also the originator of the term “re-gifter,” after he gave Jerry a label maker that he had originally received as a gift. Dr. Whatley’s memorable and often awkward interactions with the main cast made him one of the show’s most recognizable supporting characters and a highlight of Cranston’s early comedic work.

‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)

In what is widely regarded as one of the greatest performances in television history, Cranston starred as Walter White. He played a brilliant but underachieving high school chemistry teacher who, after a terminal cancer diagnosis, decides to cook and sell methamphetamine to provide for his family after he is gone. The role chronicles his transformation from a mild-mannered family man into the feared drug lord Heisenberg.

Over five seasons, Cranston took the character on an astonishing journey from a sympathetic protagonist to a complex and ruthless anti-hero. He masterfully portrayed Walter’s descent into the criminal underworld, capturing his pride, intelligence, and spiraling moral decay. The role earned him numerous awards and cemented his legacy as one of the finest actors of his time.

Let us know which Bryan Cranston performance you consider his greatest in the comments.